Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

to it; and we shall discompose the peace and order of our minds, and shall foment many hurtful passions. Maria always appears amiably. She never speaks severe or contemptuous.*

*

Young perfons who ftudy grammar, find it difficult to decide. in particular conftructions, whether an adjective or an adverb ought to be used. A few obfervations on this point may ferve to inform their judgment, and direct their determination. They fhould carcfully attend to the definitions of the adjective and the adverb; and confider whether, in the cafe in queftion, quality, or manner, is indicated. In the former cafe, an adjective is proper; in the latter, an adverb. A number of examples will illuftrate this direction, and prove useful on other occafions.

She looks cold-She looks coldly on him.

He feels warm-He feels warmly the infult offered to him.
He became fincere and virtuous-He became fincerely virtuous
She lives free from care-He lives freely at another's expense.
Harriet always appears neat-She dreffes neatly.

Charles has grown great by his wisdom-He has grown greatly in reputation.

They now appear happy-They now appear happily in earnest. The statement seems exact-The ftatenient feems exactly in point

The verb to be, in all its moods and tenfes, generally requires the word immediately connected with it to be an adjective, not an adverb; and, confequently, when this verb can be fubftituted for any other, without varying the fense or the conftruction, that other verb must also be connected with an adjective. The following fentences elucidate thefe obfervations: This is agreeable to our intereft; That behaviour was not fuitable to his ftation; Rules fhould be

is

conformable to fenfe;" "The rofe fmells fweet; How fweet the is is

hay smells! How delightful the country appears! How pleasant the

are

are

was

fields look! The clouds look dark; How black the sky looked! The is

were

[ocr errors]

apple tastes four; How bitter the plums tafted! He feels happy." In all these fentences, we can, with perfect propriety, fubftitute fome tenfes of the verb to be for the other verbs. But in the following fentences, we cannot do this: "The dog fmells difagreeably; George feels exquifitely; How pleasantly she looks at us !

The directions contained in this note are offered as ufeful, not as complete and unexceptionable. Anomalies in language every where encounter as: but we must not reject rules, becaufe, they are attende ed with exceptions.

PART IV.

EXERCISES IN PUNCTUATION.

CHAP. I.

Sentences which require the application of the Comma, disposed under the particular Rules..

Grammar, p. 257. Key, p. 86.

RULE I.

THE tear of repentance brings its own relief. Manhood is disgraced by the consequences of neglected youth.

Idleness is the great fomenter of all corruptions in the human heart.

It is honourable to be a friend to the unfortunate. All finery is a sign of littleness.

Slovenliness and indelicacy of character commonly go hand in hand.

The friend of order has made half his way to virtue.

Too many of the pretended friendships of youth are mere combinations in pleasure.

The indulgence of harsh dispositions is the introduction to future misery.

The intermixture of evil in human society serves to exercise the suffering graces and virtues of the good.

RULE IL

Grammar, p. 258. Key, p. 87.

Gentleness is in truth the great avenue to mutyal enjoyment.

Charity like the sun brightens all its objects. The tutor by instruction and discipline lays the foundation of the pupil's future honour.

Trials in this stage of being are the lot of man. No assumed behaviour can always hide the real character.

The best men often experience disappointments. Advice should be seasonably administered.

RULE III.

Self-conceit presumption and obstinacy blast the prospect of many a youth.

In our health life possessions connexions pleasures there are causes of decay imperceptibly working. Discomposed thoughts agitated passions and a ruffled temper poison every pleasure of life.

Vicissitudes of good and evil of trials and consolations fill up the life of man.

Health and peace a moderate fortune and a few friends sum up all the undoubted articles of temporal felicity.

We have no reason to complain of the lot of man or of the world's mutability.

RULE IV.

An idle trifling society is near akin to such as is corrupting.

Conscious guilt renders us mean-spirited timorous and base.

An upright mind will never be at a loss to discern what is just and true lovely honest and of good report.

The vicious man is often looking round him with anxious and fearful circumspection..

True friendship will at all times avoid a careless or rough behaviour.

Time brings a gentle and powerful opiate to all misfortunes.

RULE V.

Grammar, p. 260. Key, p. 88.

The man of virtue and honour will be trusted relied upon and esteemed.

Deliberate slowly execute promptly.

A true friend unbosoms freely advises justly assists readily adventures boldly takes all patiently defends resolutely and continues a friend unchangeably.

Sensuality contaminates the body depresses the understanding deadens the moral feelings of the heart and degrades man from his rank in the creation.

Idleness brings forward and nourishes many bað passions.

We must stand or fall by our own conduct and character.

The man of order catches and arrests the hours as they fly.

The great business of life is to be employed in doing justly loving mercy and walking humbly with our Creator.

RULE VI.

This unhappy person had often been seriously affectionately admonished but in vain.

To live soberly righteously and piously comprehends the whole of our duty.

When thy friend is calumniated openly and boldly espouse his cause.

Benefits should be long and gratefully remembered.

RULE VIL.

True gentleness is native feeling heightened and improved by principle.

The path of piety and virtue pursued with a firm and constant spirit will assuredly lead to happiness.

[ocr errors]

Human affairs are in continual motion and fluctuation altering their appearance every moment and passing into some new forms.

What can be said to alarm those of their danger who intoxicated with pleasures become giddy and insolent; who flattered by the illusions of prosperity make light of every serious admonition which their friends and the changes of the world give them?

RULE VIII.

If from an internal cause a man's peace of mind be disturbed in vain we load him with riches or ho

nours.

Gentleness delights above all things to alleviate distress; and if it cannot dry up the falling tear to tooth at least the grieving heart.

Wherever Christianity prevails it has discouraged and in some degree abolished slavery.

We may rest assured that by the steady pursuit of virtue we shall obtain and enjoy it.

RULE IX.

Grammar, p. 261. Key, p. 89.

Continue my dear child to make virtue thy principal study.

To you my worthy benefactors am I indebted under Providence for all I enjoy.

Canst thou expect thou betrayer of innocence to escape the hand of vengeance?

Come then companion of my toils let us take fresh courage persevere and hope to the end.

RULE X.

Peace of mind being secured we may smile at misfortunes.

Virtue abandoned and conscience reproaching us we become terrified with inaginary evils.

« AnteriorContinuar »